Shock absorber



Dec. 27, 192 7.

J. c. BATTLE SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Juhe 22. 1926 Patented Dec. 27, 1927.-

PATENT OFFWE;

JAMES c. BATTLE, OF nos ANGELES; cALIFoRNm shock- ABSORBER;

Applicatib'n filfiiune' 22, 1926. Serial Nb: 117715.

wava mdveaient of a vehicle frame in referelite-w the axle or to'restrain the downward mevemneof the aXle in're'ference t'o ave'hicle Anobject of my invention is to form' aexeessiwu wartt throw due to springare mil,- and thuspreventin What is termed the rebound, restrainingthedownward native merit of the aide inreference to a vehicle frame. I

A further object of my invention rs to form a; snubb'er' utilizing aninextensibl'e' strap-preferably formed of fabric, this strap passingaround an axle and having a spring connected tothestrap, the spring.strap being so connected to the vehicle that on the upvtard throwof thebody of such veh clethe sp'r i ng is extended; and thereby brmgs areater tension onthe strap to restranr the movement of the vehicle,also" a connection to 'checlt downward" throw of the axle;

Another object of my invention is to give utilize a leaf springconnected to one end of'the map, the strap being passed over an axleandconne'ct'ed to a fixed part of the vehicle.

In constructing my shock absorber or snubber' I may utilize a number ofdifferent procedures. In one instance the strap by a suitable bracket orthe like, may be adjustably connected to the frame of a 'e'l'n'cle thestrap forming merely a loop underneath the axle and having a springconnected. to the other end of the strap, the springbeing connected insome operative manner With the frame of the vehicle, and preferablybeing adjustable. In another procedure the strap may be'gi've'n' afllooparound the axle to illcrease the friction of movement; My constructionmay be; reversed? if" desired; in that the endsof the strap my. be

attache-d to'the axle lioiisin'glor a st i ut li'ie connected therewithand'the 160p ofthestiap, assedover an, element or the 'lik'eiatta'ched"to the vehicle frame. 2

Various other"ar'rangeiiients'willb apparent from the renewing;description in con nect i'on with the drawings; in which ;i ,v

Figure 11am elevatio'fi'ofa wheel, showing vehicle axle in" section"arid part pf a vehicle frame with one type of my shock absorber orsnubher connected heme);

Fig. 2 is a view similar" to Fig, 1, showing' an alternative fbrnivv'ith' the strap having a loop around the axle; I V

Fig; 3is a still'fuithr fofin in which the strap is'"provitledwith'aplurality of springs,- thesprin'gs being attached to both ends of thestrap to draw same tightly against the" axle'or axle housing;

F ig; 4 isstillanot'her' alternative View, illustrating a relatively,non-niovable strap attached to'an axle and having a' compression type ofSpring het'vve'en' the strap and the vehicle;

Fig. 5 is a; further" alternative constructionjwith one e'ridofthe strapattached to a leaf spring, the other endheing secured to the frameanduzith a loop over the axle;

F i'g. 6 is a further alternative form in which the free end of thestrap and of'the spring are at'ta'ched to the aiZ-le housing, the loopof the strap sliding over a fixed part of the frame.

Referring first to Fig. 1, awvheel is designated by the numeral 1',mounted on an axle 2, which is shown constructed of the ll-beam type asis usual in the front axles of automobiles. A curved'segment 3 issecured over the lower flange of the I beani and the ends 4. ofthis'segment are bent in close to the eb 5 of the I-bearn. It will thus beseen that the lower flange b and the edges thereof are completelyencased Where the strap 7 passes, to reduce the Wear onthe strap.

The vehicle frame is designated by the numeral 8 and'has preferably astrong curved bar'or bracket 9 secured to the frame, preferably by a.bolt 10. One end of the strap secured to an eye 11 of a bolt 12, thisbolt having an adjusting nut 13 illustrated as a wing nut. The other endof the strap 14 is secured to a tension spring 15, this being attachedto the nut adjusting bolt 16, likewise having an adjusting nut. I

The action of the snubber of Fig. 1, is substantially as follows:

It will be understood that there will be sufiicient tension brought onthe strap by utilizing the proper strength of spring and by properlyadjusting the bolts 12 and 16, so that on the upward rebound of'thevehicle frame due to spring or other action, a suflicient tension isbrought on the strap to ma terially reduce or prevent the upward reboundafter a substantially predetermined extension of the spring; that is, mysnubber is designed so that it does not positively limit the rebound,but the spring being extensible brings a gradual tensioning of thestrap, thereby in small bumps restraining the upward rebound to thatallowed by the springs of the vehicle in their normal action, and inexcessive rebound, bringing a considerable tension on the strap toresist or stop such action.

In Fig. 2, I illustrate an arrangement particularly suitable for rearaxles, having round axle housings, or for a round type of front axle, orelse a front axle with a suit able cylindrical casing. In theconstruction the strap 7 is given a loop around the axle 17 the strapcrossing over itself as indicated by the numeral 18. The sprin r on theend of the strap is attached to the ar 9 in the manner described inconnection with Fig. 1.

In the actions of the strap of both Figs. 1 and 2, as the strap isinextensible and the spring extensible, the strap has a sliding motionrelative to the axle. This also brings a friction factor into theoperation of my shock absorber or snubber in addition to the action ofthe spring. This materially reduces the upward reaction of the vehiclein a bump and requires using a spring of less strength.

In this illustration I have shown a compression type of spring 19 whichis more suited than a tension type to secure accurate adjustment of itsstrength. This spring is formed with a U-shaped rod 20 extending looselythrough an inner plate 21 and being secured to an outer plate 22 by nuts23 threaded on the end of the rod. A pulling rod 24 extends looselythrough the plate 22 and has a nut or swivel head 25 engaging the plate21. A compression spring 26 is coiled between the two plates and isunder compression, normally thrusting these plates apart. The rod 20 isconnected to an adjusting bolt 16. A spring of this type is also shownin Fig. 4.

In Fig. 8, the strap 7 is positioned relative to the axle in the samemanner as shown in Fig. 1, but an additional spring 27 is utilized, thisbeing connected to the adjusting bolt 12.

In Fig. 4 I show another type of snubber in which a rung or loop formedof a strap 28, completely encircles the axle, preferably havingstitching or a rivet 29 forming a small eye 30 in the end of the strap;this being secured to a hook or the like formed on the end of the rod 24of the compression spring.

The action of the snubber of Figs. 3 and 4 it is believed Will beapparent. In this case there is no friction rubbing of the strap on theaxle as the strap remains substantially stationary relative thereto,both the springs of Fig. 3 extendingon the up- Ward throw of the vehicleand the single,

spring of Fig. 4 being put under compression.

In Fig. 5, the strap at one end is secured to an eye 35 rigidlyconnected to the vehicle frame and the other end of the strap isattached to a leaf spring 36, the strap looping around the axle.

In Fig. 6, a clamp 37 is secured to the axle housing and has a pluralityof eyes 38 and 39 to which the end of the strap and the spring aresecured, the strap passing over a curved bracket 10 depending from theframe.

In reference to the construction of Fig. 2 in which the strap encirclesthe axle and is crossed over itself, it will be noted that the strap hasa binding action on the axle as well as a slipping action, due to therelative movement of the axle towards and from the vehicle frame memberand thus forms an effective rebound snubber.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have developed asimple type of shock absorber or snubber which may be attached todifferent types of axles and thereby form an efficient snubber. It islikewise manifest that the general c011- struction may be changed, orthe specific details. Such changes however, would be within the spiritof my invention as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. A shock absorber for a vehicle comprising in combination asubstantially hori- Zontal vehicle frame member, a vehicle axle, acurved bar, means securing the center part of the bar to the lower partof the frame member, the bar being convexly curved in relation to theframe member, a strap, means adjustably connecting one end of the strapto one end of the bar, the. curve of the bar giving a clearance to theadjusting means between the bar and the frame member, the strap partlyencircling the axle and crossing over itself, a spring connected to thefree end of the strap,

and means adjustably connecting the spring to the opposite end of thebar, such end of the bar having: a clearance between the frame member toallow access to the adjustable connection 2. A shock absorber comprisinga curved bar adapted to be secured to a straight vehicle frame member atthe center of the bar, a strap, means adjustably connecting one end ofthe strap to one end of the bar, 10 a spring on the free end of thestrap, and means to adjustably connect the spring to the other end ofthe bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speeification.

JAMES C. BA'VILE.

